There are various legal and professional advisors in Spain that you may need if you purchase property or decide to become a resident. This section is intended to help you understand what the role of different professions is and how they can help you.
The individual relationships that develop with financial professionals are very important for the business client because it will be an ongoing one which can rely as heavily upon personal interaction as upon the level of service that the professional provides. Therefore, your choice of a foreign exchange company is an even more important one. Before making any selection, there are a number of basic questions that you will need to ask.
The first time a foreigner hears this job title he may think he is having his leg pulled. It is commonly used however and not at all disrespectful. The origin is unclear. The surveyor is often associated with insurance claims, and will inspect the property or the car to assess the damage.
The Notary is not a professional advisor he is a witness of the state. There are many transactions, such as the purchase of land, that the law requires that they be witnessed by a Notary. The escritura of your house is signed and filed away at the Notary and becomes an "escritura publica". You will have a certified copy of the document and the original remains with the Notary.
These are typical thing you might do at the Notary's office.
The Gestor is a profession dedicated principally to helping you with Spanish Bureaucracy. It is a concept that many foreigners new to Spain have trouble understanding as the profession simply does not exist in their home countries. It originates form the days when illiteracy in Spain was very high and the bureaucracy was complicated. Luckily there are many English speaking Gestors in the popular costal towns on hand to help.
As a business owner in Andalucia you will periodically need the services of an auditor. These professional accountants study your company’s accounts and finances in order to certify that your financial statements are valid and free of error.
You may not need the services of an accountant when you first arrive in Spain but when it comes to completing your annual income tax return you might consider employing one. Accounting services are not difficult to locate in Andalucia. Both qualified Spanish and foreign accountants provide services in many languages. In Spanish, an accountant is called a "contable", or Asesor Fiscal. A business is likely to employ one to help with the tax returns and employing staff.
